Lyttelton Road Tunnel

The 1,970 metres long tunnel links State Highway 74 and the Lyttelton Road

It was the longest road tunnel in NZ until the Waterview Tunnel (2400 metres) in Auckland opened on 2 July 2017

View of the Tunnel's entrance at Heathcote Valley in the south-east of Christchurch

View of the Tunnel's entrance at Port Lyttleton

Infographic including route of Tunnel between Heathcote & Lyttelton, Dec 2011

Postcard with map of route of the Tunnel between Christchurch & Lyttelton

Promotional map of the Tunnel Road between Christchurch & Lyttelton

However, budget shortage led to the roadwork being suspended in April 1850

£20,000 for public works was spent by March. Where the road was stopped became known as Sticking Point or Windy Rock.

To enable the immigrants to reach Christchurch, a track was carved which became known as Bridle Path (See Map: far left)

With a budget of £300, a work gang of 70 European & Māori workmen quickly completed the track

The track was wide enough for horses but its steepness meant riders would often dismount to lead horses by their bridle

Boats had to travel over the Sumner Bar; then up either the Heathcote or Avon Rivers to Christchurch

Image: View of the Heathcote River, Forty Miles Beach (Pegasus Bay) & settlers driving stock down the Bridle Path, 1851

Meanwhile, work on the road over Evans Pass to Sumner had resumed & officially opened on 24 Aug 1857

The road was 4 miles long from Evans Pass to Sumner & a further 7 miles to Christchurch, & cost £30,000. (Image: c.1868)

To help transport larger items & goods to Christchurch, the 2.6 km Lyttelton Rail Tunnel was built during 1861-1864

It was initially known as the Moorhouse Rail Tunnel (named after Superintendent Moorhouse who was an advocate)

Years of debate, funding issues & advent of WWI & WWII delayed Govt's decision to build the Lyttelton Road Tunnel

Image: Suggested map of tunnel by advocacy group, Port and City Committee (Christchurch), which formed in 1922

Following the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Act of Oct 1956, the Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority was formed

Image: Chairman of the Authority was William (Bill) McGibbon

The Ministry of Works designed the tunnel & called for tenders in Oct 1960 for construction to be completed in 3 years

MOW estimated the construction of the tunnel would cost about £3.5 million

View of roundabout at the entrance to the Tunnel at Lyttelton

View of Lyttelton Harbour with entrance to the Tunnel by roundabout on the left behind the first docking pier

The 1,970 metres long Tunnel has one traffic lane in each direction & was designed to handle 2,400 vehicles an hour

It was the longest road tunnel in NZ until the Waterview Tunnel (2400 metres) in Auckland opened on 2 July 2017

Private vehicles had to pay tolls at the toll booth until this charge was abolished on 1 April 1979

Levy was initially 2s 6d, reduced to 2 shillings (1 Oct 1966); became 30 cents (10 July 1967) & 30 cents (1 April 1978)

Toll booths at the Heathcote side of the Tunnel

In 1965, an average of 2,805 vehicles a day used the Tunnel

Lyttelton Road Tunnel Administration Building in Heathcote Valley was built in 1963-64

The building designed by Peter Beaven was given a New Zealand Historic Places Trust Category 1 listing in 2008

A tour of the building was filmed for the TV series 'The elegant shed' (1984)

After Feb 2011 Christchurch earthquake, it was demolished in early 2013 & new building completed in June 2014 ($1.5m)

A community celebration was held on 31 Aug 2014 to open the new building & commemorate the Tunnel's 50th anniversary